Five’s a crowd: 49ers release QB Faulkner

Asked Sunday about the five quarterbacks he had in training camp, Jim Harbaugh said Colin Kaepernick, Blaine Gabbert, Josh Johnson and McLeod Bethel-Thompson were all “NFL quarterbacks without question and assets for us to be on our team.”

The fifth quarterback? Evidently there was a reason Harbaugh didn’t include Kory Faulkner in the aforementioned group.

After this morning’s practice, the 49ers waived Faulkner, an undrafted free agent from Southern Illinois, and claimed offensive tackle Michael Phillip off waivers from the Dolphins. The 49ers were down an offensive lineman after waiving guard Fouimalo Fonoti today to make room for running back Alfonso Smith.

It is unusual for teams to carry five quarterbacks in training camp. On Sunday, Harbaugh said he wanted to have a developmental quarterback such as Faulkner on the 90-man roster.

“I do like having the young player in as well, Kory Faulkner, and seeing what he can do and giving him an opportunity,” Harbaugh said. “He’s been really good to be around and he’s soaking it all in, taking it all in from some very good players that are at his position.”

Phillip (6-4, 328) is an undrafted free agent from Oregon State, where his 48 starts rank third in school history. He was signed by the Browns after the draft in May, but cut after the Browns’ rookie camp. He was signed by the Dolphins after he tried out at Miami’s rookie camp.

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Starting cornerbacks Chris Culliver and Tramaine Brock did not practice today after they left Sunday’s session early. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said they just needed “a day or two of rest” before they could return.

“Just little nicks in their leg area that they’re dealing with,” Fangio said.

Defensive tackle Ray McDonald was sidelined with what Fangio termed a leg injury that wasn’t serious.

“Just being prudent with it right now that he doesn’t aggravate it and make it worse,” Fangio said.

Defensive tackle Justin Smith, 34, has yet to practice during training camp, a nod, Fangio said, to his veteran status and the shoulder surgery he had in the offseason.